Toddle About Blog

parenting

Both my son, who’s two, and I suffer from dry skin with occasional outbreaks of eczema. I’ve tried many different products in the past to relieve it, including prescription items. I’ve used a couple of different Aveeno products with success in the past, but had never tried anything from the baby range. As my son had recently began to get dry skin again, particularly on his legs and face, this was a great opportunity to try out the Aveeno Dermexa Daily Emollient Cream and Goodnight Emollient Balm and see if they made a difference to his skin.

We applied the emollient cream after his bath each night. The texture was nice and light, easy to apply and absorbed almost instantly. Even after one night I noticed how much softer his skin had become, and over the next couple of days the dryness had gone. I also noticed that it made my sore itchy hands very smooth and comfortable, so I began using it as a hand cream and it really has made a difference, I found it very soothing and the angry red patches have virtually disappeared!

I then used the goodnight balm on specific patches of eczema on both of us. It was thicker than the cream, so a little went a long way and it really seemed to calm down the redness on my son’s face. Continue reading →

Out of the box, this monitor is a simple plug and go system with the camera just needing to be plugged in using one of the micro USB cables provided. You do have to fully charge the monitor before use though, which is a bit of a pain as there appears to be no clear indication of when this is charge is complete, it took about 45 minutes before it appeared to be fully charged.

Once charged, the monitor is really intuitive to use and has some good features such as sound alert, two-way talk and zoom. One of the best features is that you can move the camera remotely using the monitor – handy if you have a baby that likes to roll around the cot like mine does! With the video on at all times (you can also put it on a sleep mode to turn off the screen after a set time) the monitor lasted around 6 hours before it needed charging again. Continue reading →

We all have different needs but carrying your child is something we have to do so why not find a way that is comfortable and beneficial. Here are five fab tips!

1. Freedom: Being hands free allows you to do so many things. If you have other children you can hold their hands; carrying shopping, cooking or travelling are all easier with a happy baby in a sling.

2. Security: Being close feels safe. Your smell, temperature and heartbeat make your baby feel this way. Keeping them close is helping bring up a confident, happy child and gives them better health and mental stability in the future.

3. Style: For me, wearing something beautiful feels great and I was often stopped in the street and asked about my baby carrier. Choose a carrier that suits your style or character.

4. Sleep: Some babies do, lots don’t, not unless they are snugly in a sling. It’s the way I rocked my daughters to sleep nightly and how I could be sure that in a new place they would. Continue reading →

Children are truly amazing. They are born with a will to learn, they are innately curious, they love to explore, to discover, to create and to understand the world around them. With no bias or boundary.

In their early years, it is therefore very important to provide our children with activities and opportunities to learn all about STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths). This early involvement will help to prepare them well for school and ultimately their future careers ahead.

Having fun with STEM activities both inside and outside may spark interests that you never knew your child had. Activities in STEM are a great way to develop thinking skills, problem-solving skills, investigation skills and encourage curiosity and creative thinking.

At Northampton High, we always use a variety of multi-sensory opportunities to promote STEM. From using light-boxes, growing food, building with a variety of materials and sorting and classifying objects there are always new ways to learn. Continue reading →

The arrival of a new baby is an exciting time. However, for your older child, a new baby can be a dramatic life change. All of a sudden they aren’t the center of attention at all times. This new arrival seems to be mom and dad’s first priority, and doesn’t really do anything besides sleep, fill diapers and cry. It’s no surprise that this transition can be rocky.

Here are a few tips to help things go more smoothly.

Talk About The New Baby Ahead Of Time
It’s a good idea to start talking to your child about the new baby. While toddlers and young children may have trouble fully grasping the implications of a new sibling, at least it won’t be a complete surprise. It can help to point out different things around the house from time to time that the baby will use. For example, you might show your child a bassinet or crib and say this is where the the baby is going to sleep. Sometimes concrete examples like this can really help. Continue reading →

Attachment Parenting is enveloped in confusion and opinion. It is often perceived as a fringe or extreme approach to parenting, though parents who practice it are simply following their instincts for attunement with their child. You may be practicing it yourself without even realising it.

A Brief History

Attachment Parenting International (API) was founded 25 years ago by Barbara Nicholson and Lysa Parker, in Nashville, Tennessee. They were mothers and teachers who noticed a growing need among students for greater family security and caregiver availability. They founded API to bring information and support to parents through a centralised collection of resources.

Today, the Attachment Parenting movement is well-established. Most parents recognise the power of touch, positive discipline and other Attachment Parenting practices. However, the essence of Attachment Parenting has been muddled. It is often confused with other parenting styles, such as permissive parenting (placing very few rules, expectations or demands on the child), helicopter parenting (like helicopters, parents ‘hover overhead’ to oversee every aspect of their child’s life) and natural parenting (centred on meeting the child’s needs and encouraging them to develop at their own pace). API approaches parenting in ways that can be adapted by any parent with the goal and desire of helping children reach their fullest individual potential. Continue reading →

Have you ever asked yourself why some children’s lives are filled with satisfaction and happiness whilst others experience frustration and despair? Or why some children succeed and others struggle?

Following twenty-five years of revolutionary research, Dr Tom Boyce, one of the world’s foremost doctors in paediatric health reveals in his new book that children are either orchids or they’re dandelions. Some children (like orchids) are more sensitive and susceptible to their surroundings, while others (like dandelions) are more likely to be hardy and resilient, able to thrive easily regardless of the conditions around them.

Dr Boyce suggests that by better understanding more sensitive children and the adults they become, parents have the potential to make a positive lasting difference on their lives.

If you are wondering whether your child might be an orchid, take a look at these statements to see which resonate:

There are amazing products coming out all the time for bumps, babies and toddlers. Here’s our run down of some of the best things available on the market today:

Oyster Carapace I-Size Collection – £249

The latest addition to the award-winning Oyster range from BabyStyle, the Collection includes the Carapace Toddler i-Size Car Seat and the Duofix i-Size Base, which together offer comfort and safety up to around four years of age. The seat can be reclined in both rearward and forward facing positions and features easy harness and headrest adjustments, ensuring your child is safe and secure.

With not being a fan of dozens of clips and buckles, I love using wrap style slings and I am happy to say that the Amawrap did not disappoint.

Once you’ve had a bit of practice you soon get the hang of it and I can now tie it in under a minute! The Amwrap has a very helpful video to show you how it’s done as well as clear pictures in the instruction manual, it even shows you how to use the wrap in three carrying positions – hip, basic and newborn carry.

The sling is able to support newborns and children up to the weight of 15kg so I used this wrap with both my one year old son and my friend’s 3 month old baby. The material is soft yet strong and it supported my 13kg son comfortably without causing me any discomfort. It was really useful to have him in the hip carrying positions on days where he wanted to be held a lot – my hands were free to do other tasks! Continue reading →